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Copenhagen`s Hotel Boom


Since 1998 Copenhagen has increased its hotel capacity by more than 24 per cent, and the city expects to offer close to 2,200 new rooms before the end of 2004.


Currently, Copenhagen has close to 12,000 hotel rooms in total but, with these five newcomers opening next year, that figure will be boosted by close to 1,200 rooms. First Hotel N¿rregade*****, set to open at the end of 2003, will be Copenhagen’s fifth five-star hotel, offering 270 rooms in what was once one of the city’s largest department stores. Two four-star hotels - the new Scandic Hotel overlooking the harbour, and one other, as yet unnamed but scheduled to take over a shopping and entertainment centre - will offer 207 and 225 rooms respectively. Meanwhile two three-star hotels, The Square Copenhagen, on the Town Hall Square, and a new Choice Hotel, Quality Hotel Sydhavnen, will offer a further 180 and 220 rooms.


Lars Bernhard J¿rgensen, managing director of Wonderful Copenhagen CVB, comments: ‘Copenhagen is among the world`s top 10 most used congress cities, but in the past it has missed out on many major conferences and meetings during the peak season from May to September because of limited hotel capacity. These new hotels will meet the demand from the major congresses but, in light of the economic slow down, it will of course be a challenge for the city to maintain demand for hotel rooms in the coming year’s.’

The Copenhagen hotel boom began in 1998 with the opening of the First Hotel Vesterbro****. The latest arrival on the city’s hotel scene is Hilton`s new Scandic hotel, the 281-room Scandic Sydhavnen***, which opened in May 2002. Last year saw the opening of both the 382-room Hilton Copenhagen Airport***** (in February), and the 395-room Copenhagen Marriott*****, which opened on 1 September.  Meanwhile, a number of existing hotels have commenced renovation and/or expansion.

In addition to this, the fixed link between Sweden and Denmark that opened in July 2000 has resulted in a total of close to 22,000 hotel rooms being made available in the ¯resund Region, encompassing Copenhagen and Malm¿.

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The new Copenhagen hotels in brief:

The Hilton Copenhagen Airport***** opened on 2 February 2001. With 382 rooms, a floor of meeting rooms, a fitness centre and a pool, the hotel is geared to both business and leisure guests. It also boasts underground parking and direct access to Copenhagen airport`s Terminal 3, via a covered walkway, restaurants and 24-hour room service.

Further information: Hilton Copenhagen Airport, Director of Business
Development, Mrs. Berit Leth, Tel: (+45) 32 50 15 01 or [email protected]

The Copenhagen Marriott Hotel***** is located on the waterfront in central
Copenhagen, and opened with 395 rooms plus conference facilities on 1 September 2001. It features a 550 square-metre conference hall (which can be divided in two by a partition if required) overlooking the harbour, and eight meeting rooms. The hotel also offers its own restaurant with outdoor terrace, a lobby bar, 24-hour room service, and a fitness centre. Meanwhile, a fully equipped business centre caters to business and commercial guests.

Further information: Director of sales and Marketing, Ms. Anette Ravn
Jensen, Tel.: (+45) 33 77 24 13 or [email protected]

The latest arrival on the Copenhagen hotel scene is Hilton`s new Scandic hotel Scandic Sydhavnen***, which opened in May 2002. The hotel is located in Sydhavnen - an expanding business quarter not far from Copenhagen`s congress centre, Bella Center, and the new city quarter, ¯restad. It is easily reached from both the airport and the city centre. All 281 rooms are decorated to the highest modern standard and offer free high-speed Internet access. The hotel also boasts modern conference facilities and two restaurants.


Further information: www.scandic-hotels.com or contact Mr. Hans G. Frank, Managing Director of Business Area Denmark, Tel.: (+45) 33 48 04 50.

In June 2002 a smaller scale, more intimate hotel opened on Vesterbrogade in central Copenhagen. Hotel Guldsmeden*** offers 34 rooms, each of which is individually decorated in the French colonial style. The hotel is due to expand by a further 30 rooms in early 2003.

Further information: Managing Director, Sandra Plesner Weinert, Tel. (+45) 3322 1500 or [email protected]

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